Luma & Elleven

California has a long history of innovative sustainable
design, especially in civic and public sector buildings. But when Ankrom Moisan
was hired to design two large multi-family projects in downtown Los Angeles,
there had never been a LEED Gold (or higher) housing project in the state. For
the first new housing built in LA in over 20 years, Ankrom Moisan collaborated
with the client to create an innovative design that became the first and second
LEED Gold condominiums in California.

The two buildings use many strategies that today are
common, but at the time were groundbreaking innovations. High-performance
glazing and high-efficiency heat pumps achieve significant energy savings.
Water usage is minimized through dual flush toilets and stormwater is captured
and filtered on-site. Extensive use of regional materials and recycled content
help reduce embodied energy. Parking is considerably below city requirements,
and 95% of construction waste on the project was recycled.

The design team paid careful attention to the pedestrian
realm, which includes over 10,000 sq. ft. of retail that activates the street
edge. Ten ground-floor, live-work residences add additional vitality to the
area. A third floor terrace between the buildings, with a swimming pool,
gardens, and an outdoor kitchen, provides a common amenity space and creates an
opportunity for residents to interact and build community.